Closure



Patented May 18, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT -orrlcl-1l YcLosURE Merrill L. Rathbuii, salamanca, N. Y. Application July a, 1939, serial No. 282,658.- relaims. (crm- 57) Y This invention relates to an improvedpivotal structure for closures and in particular receptacles or cases. f

In ione form the invention is applied to |a closed receptacle such as may be used to package Aand display jewelry. The receptacle comprises a body and cover. One or more hinges serve to pivotally join `the cover to the lbody. Each hinge comprises a pair of elements having portions that 'extend into suitable openings or slots in the blody and cover of the receptacle. Inter-fitting cup-like parts pivotally connect these elements. The elements are prevented disengagement due to their being positioned within the openings or slots in the body and :cover of the receptacle. vOne or more spring clips, preferably engaged with the lbody and cover of the receptacle, serve to prevent withdrawal of the hingle elements from the receptacle members and the consequent'disengagement of the elements themselves. l' The spring clip is also designed to retain the cover in closed or opened position with respect to the body of the receptacle.

One of the objects of the invention lies inthe priovision of pivotal means for closures wherein a spring serves to secure the pivotal means in operable pivotal relationship.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a pivotal structure for a 'closed receptacle that is extremely sturdy and readily adaptable in different sizesA for the :pivotal requirements of closed receptacles of various sizes.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of pivotal means for a closed receptacle that comprises a pair of hinge elements having intertting cups, the elementsbeing partially em- Ibedded in the body and Acover' or the receptacle to prevent displacement.

Another object of the invention lies in the provision of a hinge for the cover of a receptacle that is held in place in the @body and cover of the receptacle by one or more spring clips.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be more fully understood from a consideration of the following specication ltaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing; and in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of one modification of the invention embodied in a closed receptacle, shown in opened position;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of the invention, showing the position of the hinge elements when the receptacle cover is closed;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the receptacle cover in opened position;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view of the hinge structure, being taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the Wall CTI of the receptacle with which the hinge is engaged, lbeing similar to Figure 4 withthe hinge removed Figure 6 is a perspective viewl of the hinge elements prior to assembly; y 4

Figure 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View showing the means employed to prevent displacement of the hinge elements; and

'Figure 8 is an exploded view of the receptacle, hinge elements and spring and discloses one method of assembly.

Reference is now had tothe drawing wherein the numeral I0 is employed to generally designate a closed receptacle with which the subject matter of the present invention may be employed. 'I'he receptacle A:comprises a body I I and cover I2. These members may be of any configuration and material. In the present instance, the receptacle is of thetype :provided to display and package small articles of jewelry and is molded from synmetio resin or similar material. It will be understood, however, that the size of the receptacle and the material `from-t'vhich it isprod-'uced has no bearing on the applicability of fthe' invention thereto. l l

The rear or hingewall I 3 of the body is formed with a vertical slot I4 which commences at the upper edge of the wall and terminates alter near the inside ofthe base. Formed in the slot I4 is a transverse projection I6 that provides securement for one end of a spring clip I 1. The upper face I8 of the wall I3, in the present disclosure, is formed with two comparatively narrow vertical slots I9. The upper portion 2l of each slot extends laterally toward the rear edge of wall I3 and is substantially three times the width of the other portion thereof.

' The cover I2, insofar 'as the pivotal structure isyconcerned, may Ibe of any co-nguration, such, for example, as is shown in fthe drawing, or may 'be a duplicate of the `.body I I. The rear wall Y22 of the cover has a slot 23 that commences at the lower face 24 thereof. A portion 28 of the slot 23 extends towardthe rear edge of the vcover wall 22 and is substantially three times the width of fthe slot proper.` Slots I 9 and 23 of the Abase and -cover I I and I 2 are of equal number and adapted to .be aligned. The wall 22, substantially midway between slots 23, is formed with a recess 21 that commences at lthe bottom edge of the wall and includes a transverse projection 28 adapted to provide securement for the other end of the spring Il.

A hinge 29 serves to pivotally connect the cover with the body of the receptacle. This hinge comprises elements 3l and 32. `Element 3| includes a base 33 that is -adapted to enter and lt either slot I9 or 23. In the drawing the sectional views show the base 33 engaged with the walls of slot 23. The base extends downwardly beyond the lower edge 24 of the wall 22 and is formed with an angularly disposed arm 34 on the end of which is la cup 35. The other element 32 of the hinge isformed with a base 36 that may be identical in all respects with the base 33. This base, as

shown in the drawing, projects into and engages l' the walls of slot I9. An angularly disposed arm 3l is formed on the base and terminates in a small cup 38. The cup 38 is laterally offset from` cup 35. This is clearly illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 of the drawing.

To pivotally join the' cover l2 .to the -body Il tially as shown in Figure 8. The base 36 of element 32 is then press-fitted into the slot i9V and, when so positioned, the portion 2l of the slot reit is first necessary to intert the elements of the Y hinge 29 by engaging cup 38 with cup 35, substanceives the lower half of the cups 35 and 38, thus I preventing their disengagement. The cover l2 is positioned to cause the base 33 of element 3| to enter slot 23. The cover is then moved into closed position and pressed rmly against the body li in order that the hinge elements may be fully engaged with their respective slots. now be opened and spring clip l1 snapped into engagement with the spring seats formed by projections I8 and 28 of the body and cover. With the spring I6 in place, it is impossible for the, hinge elements to become disengaged from the body -and cover of the receptacle. Furthermore, since -the hinge elements cannot be disengaged from the body and cover, the cups 35 and 38 cannot become disengaged. The spring is so po sitioned that it has a dead-center substantiallyL midway between closed and opened position of the cover. Consequently, the spring serves to hold the cover in fully opened or closed position in addition topreventing displacement of the hinge4 elements.

It will be noted that either element of the hinge l may be engaged with either the body or cover and thus it is unnecessary to provide right and left rIhe cover may :Y

hinges for a closed receptacle wherein two or more.

hinges may be required. l The portion of each!) hinge element projecting into the slot of the adjacent member of the receptacle serves, when the cover is in closed position, to resist lateraltwisting of the cover with respect to of course, evident that the cups not project beyond the rear walls of the receptacle, provided such walls are of increased thickness, and also that these walls may be of the body. It is 35 and 38 need" lesser thickness and the cups extend fully there.

beyond. Furthermore, it will be appreciated that' the relativesize of the cups to the balance of the elements of the hinge, as well as the shape and sizeof bases 33 and 36, may be varied to meet the pivotal requirements shape or material.

cant has shown and described only one modification of a pivotal construction for 'a closed recep- Atacle, it will beunderstood that modificationsA thereof may be made and are contemplated insofari as they are within thel spirit and scope ofthe invention asset forth in the hereunto annexed claims.

for closures of different size, Therefore, although appli Having thus set forth my invention what I claim as new and for which I desire protection by Letters Patent is:

1. A receptacle comprising body and cover members, corresponding faces of the rear walls of said members having slots, said slots in part opening into the outer faces of said walls, a pair of hinge elements, cups formed on said elements, said cups being intertted to provide pivotal con nection between said elements, a part of said elements being projected into said slots, each of said elements being engaged with the slots of both oi said members when said cover member is in closed position, a spring engaged with said members, said spring serving to secure said members against displacement and said elements in operable pivotal relationship. Y

2. A receptacle comprising hinged body and cover members, corresponding faces of the hinged walls of the membersY being non-cooperative and having slots, a pair of hinge elements, interengageable portions providing pivotal connection between said elements, plate-like portions on said elements, said portions projecting into said slots and lying in a plane at substantially right angles to the pivotal axis of the members, spring seats in said hinged walls, a spring engaged with said seats, said spring serving to yieldingly retain the cover member in either of two positions, prevent lateral displacement of said members and secure said plate-like portions against displacement from said slots and said pivotal portions in interengaged pivotal relationship whereby to provide for relative pivotal movement of said members.

3. A receptacle comprising hinged body and cover members, corresponding faces of the hinged walls of the members being non-cooperative and having slots, 'a pair of hinge elements, interengageable portions providing pivotal connection between said elements, plate-like base portions on said elements, said plate-like base portions projecting into said slots and being in a plane at substantially right angles to the pivotal axisv of the members, spring means being interengaged with the hinged walls of said members, said means serving to prevent relative lateral displacement of said members and secure said plate-like base portions against displacement fromsaid slots, and said pivotal portions in interengaged Vpivotal relationship whereby to provide for relative pivotal movement of said members. Y

4. A receptacle comprising 'hinged body" and cover members, corresponding faces of the hinged Walls of the members being non-cooperative and having slots, a pair of hinged elements, interengageable portions providing pivotal connection between saidl elements, plate-like base portions on said elements, said'plate-likebase portions pro- .jecting into said slots and being in ajplane Yat substantially right angles to the pivotal 'axis of the members, said plate-like portions being. of such proportion as to be engaged with the. slots of both of said members when said cover member is in closed position, spring meansjbeing interf engaged with the hinged walls of'said members,

said means servingtoi preventv relative lateral displacement of Ysaid'mernbers and 'securensaid plate-like base portions against displacement-'from said slots, and'said pivotal portions in'i-nterengaged pivotal relationship whereby to provide for relativev pivotal movement of said members. f

- MERRILL L. RATHBUN. 

